By Bill Landon
The Shoreham-Wading River Wildcats (No.1) at 18-2 squared off against Islip (No.4) at 12-8 for the Suffolk Class A semi-final matchup on March 3. Having played each other twice during the regular season, both teams walked away with a win setting up the rubber match at Centereach High School.
The Wildcats broke out to an eight-point lead in the opening quarter but the Buccaneers found their three-point range to take a two-point lead into the halftime break.
Being the No.1 seed may have been a disadvantage to the Wildcats as their playoff bye left them out of the heat of battle since Feb. 8.
After both teams traded points over the next 14 minutes of play the Wildcats trailed by two with 38 seconds left in regulation. Islip stretched their lead to four points with less than 15 seconds left which forced the Wildcats to intentionally foul to stop the clock. The Buccaneers closed the door at the free throw line to put the game away 46-40 and will advance to the Class A final round.
Shoreham-Wading River will lose five seniors to graduation concluding their 24-2025 campaign with an impressive 18-3 record.
– Photos by Bill Landon
